Trump's exit strategy? I think I know.

[skip fox]

The trajectory of events, personalities, and voters' preferences (polls) suggest a singular outcome: Trump petulantly quits the race blaming the G.O.P. establishment for the train wreck will he knows would come in November.

My guess? He quits in September.

Then I'm out of guessing, but I know the Democrats will win, win big, win the senate, etc.

[MichiganVote]

1. He'll do the debates first. He loves TV.

[skip fox]

4. Great point, but I'm guessing he's more afraid

to look like a fool by comparison to Hillary, which would happen, he knows, even if he studies real, real hard. . . And studying has never been his strong suit.

So I' guessing he bails at least a week (maybe two weeks) before Sept. 26th when the first debate is scheduled.

He doesn't want to quit just a few days before because then he would look scared.

[MichiganVote]

13. He doesn't believe he ever looks like a fool. He thinks everyone else is a fool.

And sometimes he's right. He believes that his success in the primaries will carry him into the WH. Doubtful he believes in polls either. He trusts his gut, such as it is. The party cares about the Senate/House, but I don't think he cares about that either. He thinks the GOP should carry their own weight in these races and if they don't, too bad, so sad. He believes that he can just order up whatever he wants anyway.

Should he be "elected", we will be in a constitutional crisis in a nano second. Bush had his neo-cons, Trump has Trump and his ill gotten associates. None of them care about the USA.

[loyalsister]

26. I think the Apprentice is evidence

I haven't watched more than bits of any reality tv programming but from what I have heard and read, participating in a long running reality TV suggests that Trump is a person who cannot begin to conceive of himself appearing foolish.

[MichiganVote]

41. Agree. I hope he does "debate". Should be entertaining having called Clinton a monster&all that.

[3catwoman3]

55. "He doesn't believe he ever looks like a fool."

All behavioral manifestations aside, what further evidence do we need than his ridiculous hair?

I would love someone to slip him a mickey and shave his head while he is out. Maybe we can get Mitt to do it.

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

7. I think he'll only do one debate

I think he'll be so totally and devastatingly owned and exposed by HRC that even he will be unable to deny it.

[skip fox]

16. That's the way I'd script it,

and the way I'd savor it best.

But I think he's too great a coward to even enter the ring.

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

36. No question that he is a coward of major proportions, but

I think his massive ego will over-ride his cowardice, and compel him to show to everyone, once and for all, that he can't be bested or outwitted by a mere woman. I also think when she blows him out of the water, what remains of his blackened, shriveled soul will be shattered. At least I hope so.

[tblue37]

71. He is trying to set conditions for the debates, but he won't be able to, so he

would use that as an excuse to ditch the debates. Don't forget, he ditched the primary debates twice.

OTOH, he might get pressured into dropping out before that.

[MichiganVote]

72. The drop out thing would only be his incendiary move, and it might work to make the crazies

even crazier. So you see, Trump has incited more than the murder of one official. He has no loyalty to the United States. The United States are his enemy, afterall he believes that he and he alone can "negotiate" anyone, at any time.

The US has faced many foes and on the face of it, this is just one more unbeliever. But he sure can create a lot of chaos and he is setting things up for insurrection. Because that is what he is, an insurrectionist.

[Vattel]

2. I think he will remain the GOP candidate. I thought that he might have done something

illegal enough that the GOP could get rid of him that way, but I think they would have already made that move.

[liberal N proud]

3. I think Trumps ego is too big to let him quit

[skip fox]

9. Good point.

But I'm guessing he hates losing more. Especially losing in a humiliating manner on the national stage.

I think his logic (such as it is) will be that quitters quit to win another day.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

34. But here's the thing: He doesn't know when he's been humiliated!

He has no idea he's making a gigantic orange fool of himself because he simply can't imagine that possibility. If (as is likely) Hillary hands him his ass in a debate he will not recognize that he was beaten. If other people say he lost, he will blame the moderators, the media, whoever; but in his warped narcissistic mind he will have won and he will not feel humiliated in the least.

[Mme. Defarge]

11. I think his ego

Is too big to let him lose.

[Motley13]

5. And of course it was all rigged against him

that is why he keeps saying rigged, gives him an excuse for getting ground into the dust by Hillary.

[skip fox]

19. Yes, that will be the second major excuse. You're absolutely right.

[longship]

6. Let's get this straight.

Donald Trump is the GOP nominee for president of the US. As far as realistic politics go, there is no exit strategy. There has never been a nominated candidate who has stepped down at this late date. Not ever in history!

My advice is to stop ringing that cockamaimie bell that Drumpf is going to somehow step down as the GOP candidate. For Christ sakes, he is the result of a vetting of 17 of the so-called best the GOP has to offer, which is not saying much given the result.

Drumpf is the only GOP nominee.

There is no Drumpf exit strategy!

[JenniferJuniper]

18. There has never been a candidate like Trump

The "rigged" BS is clearly him preparing for the loss. But even he will have trouble convincing himself he isn't a y-huge loser if Clinton wins states like Georgia.

I think there is a fair chance he gets out. What did say last week, something like "I don't need this. I have a nice life..."

He may think it's better to get out before he actually does lose, screaming about rigged systems and a GOP that's afraid of his amazing awesomeness.

[longship]

21. What claim does anybody have that he's going to "get out"?

That dog just does not hunt. And the utter chaos that would result for the GOP would be catastrophic.

There are multiple states where the November presidential ballot is already carved in stone and more states are crossing that line daily. So tell me again that the GOP would want Drumpf to somehow step aside. Such thinking would be delusional.

Drumpf is the GOP presidential nominee. Period!

Mic drop.

[JenniferJuniper]

25. Your dramatic mic drop aside

Donald can do what he wants.

[longship]

57. Saying that he is going to get out of the race...

Is based on what? On nothing other than that he makes crazy statements?

Or on wishful thinking?

What evidence does anybody have that Drumpf will step down?

That's right. None whatsoever.

Yet every day somebody posts a thread here on DU claiming that Drumpf will, for some mysterious reason, step down as candidate.

That does not make any sense. There really is no practical way to replace him. The GOP is truly stuck with him at this time.

[Schema Thing]

58. the idea that he might drop out is not predicated on what the GOP wants or "is stuck with".

Trump is a wild card. He has zero loyalty to the GOP.

[FSogol]

23. I agree. The deadline to get on ballots has already passed for NC and is coming up quick in others.

Trumpy is going down with the GOP ship. His rigged election comments and blaming the GOP are nothing more than warming up the excuse train. The carnival barker never plans anything, he merely wings it. Why would he have an exit strategy? How could he possibly have a plan?

[dixiegrrrrl]

27. "he is the result of a vetting of 17 of the so-called best the GOP has to offer,"

My memory might be off, but I thought that he more or less announced he was running, and the GOP was left to catch up to him.
Remember that bit where he was being coy about "maybe, maybe not" declaring he was a Republican?

[LanternWaste]

30. No mountain is climbable until someone climbs it

"...has never been a nominated candidate who has stepped down at this late date. Not ever in history!"

No mountain is climbable until someone finally climbs it, and no river swimmable until someone eventually swims it. My advice (part II) is realize that precedent is not a requirement for X or Y to happen, regardless of how many times we say never...

[sofa king]

56. This just in:

The estates of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell have issued a preemptive cease and desist letter to the Trump campaign, demanding that their song, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" not be used at Trump campaign functions....

... At the same time, Michael McDonald has given the Trump campaign permission to use his version of the song, saying, "I regret this deeply and so will you."

[Mme. Defarge]

8. I can't see him staying in...

No way will he be able to stay scripted. He'll blame the GOP establishment, or the phony polls, or a rigged election. Or maybe he'll suddenly have "health reasons".

[longship]

15. He's the GOP nominee!

They are stuck with him.

What mechanism exists to replace him?

That's right. There is none.

[lpbk2713]

10. He will seriously expect thanks from the Dems.

For making their victories so easy. His ripple effect will be widespread.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

12. Too soon! It has to be mid-October before the second debate.

We need a good October Surprise!

[Initech]

14. Can we call it "Trexit"?

[ksoze]

17. Trump will never leave the spotlight - he is addicted to it

He will stay until the bitter end and instead spend the last days ensuring his business world continues. he will parlay this experienc einto a TV show and books for the next decade.

[no_hypocrisy]

20. Can the RNC sue Trump for fraud?

Fraud for pretending to be viable candidate who honestly wanted to attain the presidency?

The RNC expended a tremendous amount of money to promote Trump. Not to mention his donors. (Hey! Class action suit!)

I'd imagine they'd want their money back.

[Warren Stupidity]

22. He is already declaring the election a fraud.

He will stay in until the end, and then declare fraud.

His base will move even further into their delusional alternate reality. The repub establishment is not going to reclaim the party. Trump has transformed it into an overtly authoritarian nationalist xenophobic racist populist political party, a fascist party. Whoever runs in 2020 will be part of that.

[FSogol]

24. Wow, the OANXRPP!

overtly authoritarian nationalist xenophobic racist populist political party aka the Gee Oh Pee

[mainer]

28. Or to "preserve my marriage."

Which may in fact be the truth.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

35. Nah. Melania is getting too old anyhow; he's probably been looking for

a replacement already.

[skip fox]

29. Frankly I would rather see him stay in and lose big,

as the Republicans lose many down-ballot races rather than see him dropping out.

I think if he dropped out that would have disastrous results for the party. Though the damage might be only short term whereas if Trump stays in and loses, it will be long term.

So I'm hoping your right, but following the trajectory and what think will happen is at variance.

[wiggs]

31. Agree...have to suspect he has multiple pathways to avoid being the

biggest loser the general election has ever seen. Quitting is one of them.

At this point, the GOP has to assume the WH is lost. They will continue to focus on down ballot races and their best hope might be to bolster turnout with a new sacrificial candidate who, for the "good of the party and the US," will agree to become savior and get his profile up for a 2020 run. There are many who would do it. The GOP will help Trump realize he needs to quit...by rounding up several hundreds of millions in compensation. Trump not only avoids the loser tag, he wins bigley.

[Demsrule86]

32. He won't quit. nt

[Xolodno]

33. I would have guessed October

....to maximize damage.

But now, he has no reason to quit. With establishment types saying they won't vote for him, implying he's dangerous, throwing up an anti-Trump Candidate, etc. They have given him the perfect out "I lost because the rank and file GOP sabotaged me".

The real question is, how much does he want to take down with him. If he tells the rabid right to stay home or vote someone else besides the establishment because of their "torpedoing" of him, he can do some serious damage.

[Doodley]

38. I agree. If he leaves, it will be in the most destructive way.

[Doodley]

37. Trump has surrounded himself with sycophants all his adult life who tell him he is smart and a

terrific businessman, As a child, he always got his own way by being a bully and throwing tantrums. As reported, he even punched his teacher. He is the ultimate example of white, rich boy entitlement.

NO LONGER IN THE BUBBLE OF YES MEN

For the first time in his life, he has people telling him that he isn't as good as he thinks. He has people who stand up to him. He has people who can laugh at him without fear of being thumped, fired or screwed over by him. He has people close to him telling him he must read a script and not say what he wants. He has people close to him telling him what he must and must not Tweet.

For the first time in his life, he knows what it feels like to be attacked and controlled by others. As his childish Tweets and verbal retaliations show, he can't handle it. It goes beyond the limits of his emotional capacity.

This is happening to him in the media day after day after day, and although he puts on a facade of being tough, he can't handle it. He is thin-skinned. He is very insecure. He sets out to prove how tremendous he is, but he must know by now that if he loses, it will be the biggest humiliation of his life.

TRUMP WITHDRAWS

The question is: Can he handle the pressure that he personally feels that is only going to get stronger and stronger as election day approaches, as the drip, drip of defections and discourse continue and defeat becomes imminent? Personally, I don't think he can. I think he is going to break at some point. One day he will explode in a fit of desperate fury, ignoring all the advice of his handlers. He will do media interviews all day long as a last ditch effort to boost his position, but his gaffes will only cause more outrage and worse polling. Then it will be noted that Trump has been out of the media for a few days and we will see an announcement from his family and his doctor stating that he is too ill to continue campaigning and withdraws.

[skip fox]

39. From your lips to Fortuna's ear.

[July]

52. Illness is my theory, too.

It's one of his few options if he wants to save face, and we know he will want that. He can play the victim, swear he hates having to withdraw, and tell himself and his followers it's not his fault he's withdrawing, it's that damned a-fib/cancer/other made-up illness, for which he will seek treatment abroad.

[Doodley]

59. Or it's an infection he caught from Meredith McIver!

[MineralMan]

40. Maybe his withdrawal will be the October Surprise...

Nah...won't happen, probably.

[JenniferJuniper]

42. I can't imagine a Trump concession speech

Just can't envision on at all. At least not one that would constitute what one normally considers conceding an election loss.

[skip fox]

46. He won't quit, he'll "withdraw"

due to the animosity of the Republican establishment and the coorked election system.

His speech would focus on those two things as well as what a great movement he created. "The hugest in all of American history!"

[cannabis_flower]

43. A friend of mine

is predicting August 19.

https://www.facebook.com/dean.becker.779/posts/10154224722415469

[skip fox]

45. Could happen.

A couple more Susan Collin type vocal objections, Republican castigations, etc. and he might want out very soon. I think that would be worse for us, but we'll still win, and win big.

[book_worm]

44. He won't quit.

[JenniferJuniper]

47. He won't quit. But he might "move on to more profitable things"

This really is a waste of his time. And his brand is getting more tainted by the minute...

[oberliner]

49. This has been very good for his brand

Especially in the way that it has turned Ivanka Trump into one of the most beloved women in America, in spite of whatever Trump says and does. She and her brothers will be the face of the Trump brand moving forward.

[JenniferJuniper]

50. Ivanka is one of the most beloved women in America?

I must have missed that memo.

[oberliner]

51. CNN couldn't stop gushing over her during the convention

Even the progressives and moderates on the panel were impressed with her.

[JenniferJuniper]

60. Okay, well, CNN ain't America

[oberliner]

65. Very true

I would be willing to bet, though, that a survey would show very high favorability ratings for her.

[Generic Brad]

64. It was that bang up Michelle Obama speech she delivered

Very impressive indeed.

[Skittles]

61. who do you work for?

Last edited Tue Aug 9, 2016, 10:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Friedman gets it right.....(Trump) is a disgusting human being, and his children should be ashamed of him

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/10/opinion/trumps-ambiguous-wink-wink-to-second-amendment-people.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region

the fact that Ivanka and her siblings are working for their dad says everything we need to know about them

[oberliner]

66. Not sure what that question means

Just saying that she seems to be popular. This has certainly raised her profile. And I would bet if there was a national survey done, her favorability rating would be high.

[Skittles]

67. she is popular with people who cannot see past her appearance

right now she is trying really hard to get a clearly unstable person to be PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

[oberliner]

48. Not happening

No exit strategy. He is in it until the end.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

54. I agree

His ego won't let him leave and it would be (even more) disastrous for the GOP if he did, so he's not going anywhere IMHO. My prediction is that the GOP establishment is preparing to (or already has) write off the Presidential election this year and will try to salvage the down ballot races. Trump will lose in November and declare massive fraud/rigging (which will, of course, be a massive lie) to help excuse his loss, as well as keep the Republican base all fired up to go after Hillary for the next 4 years and to try to take Hillary down in 2020.

[womanofthehills]

69. I disagree - if his numbers continue to drop he will not be able to handle it

He can't stand being a loser.

[oberliner]

70. His numbers aren't dropping

His hard-core supporters aren't going anywhere.

He has adopted the Paul Ryan - Club for Growth Economic Plan.

He is not going to sink any lower in the polls.

[riversedge]

53. Trump has blamed the RNC for the botched RNC convention already.

[ecstatic]

62. He wants to be *forced out.* That's why his comments are getting more and

more outrageous. He's begging the RNC to kick him out. If forced out, he can be a hero of the lunatic right while dodging the humiliation of the debates and an epic 45+ state loss. But the sad part is that the RNC has no plans of letting him go.

[djg21]

63. No chance.

His ego won't permit it. He may leave the GOP and run as an independent but he will try to screw the GOP on the way out.

[sofa king]

68. I'm standing firm on this Friday, August 12, 2016

I think Trump's public failings are far exceeded by his private ones, particularly his involvement with the Russians. I think part of what he's been doing these past two weeks is causing the biggest dust-up he can in order to pull in campaign donations, so that he can pay himself back for his own loans.

I will admit, I expected to see rumblings in the press as insiders take off early and make other plans, but I'm still sticking to my original call. Trump committed espionage and he was given two weeks to get the fuck out, or face charges. He spent them trying to burn absolutely everything to the ground.

[MoonRiver]

73. My understanding is that after September 1st, they can't replace him, bwahahaha!

So, if you're correct, the GOP is burnt toast, and we will probably get not only the WH, but Senate, and, maybe, please Dog, the House.

Personally, I think he will quit, if he does, after being completely humiliated in the first debate.